Lawyers and supports for opposition leader. Dr.Kizza Besigye have expressed concern over the latest development in which court denied him bail again.
The Criminal Division of the High Court on F, iday once again denied Dr. Besigye and his co-accused, Haji Obeid Lutale, mandatory bail, ruling that their time in detention at Luzira Prison does not meet the 180-day threshold required by law.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from defense lawyers and members of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), who accused presiding judge Justice Emmanuel Baguma of bias.
Through their legal team led by Martha Karua, Besigye and Lutale had applied for mandatory bail, arguing that they had spent 180 days in Luzira Maximum Prison since their arrest.
However, in a ruling delivered by email, the court stated that the computation of days presented in the application was inaccurate and fell short of the statutory period.
Erias Lukwago, one of the defense lawyers, condemned the decision, describing it as “an absurdity, a travesty of justice, and an attempt to overthrow the constitution.”
“It doesn’t take rocket science to understand that Dr. Besigye has been on remand since November 20, 2024.”
The defense team announced plans to petition the judiciary over Justice Baguma’s conduct and to seek his removal from the case.
“We are going to discuss this matter with Dr. Besigye and Haji Lutale and see if we can formally request Justice Baguma to recuse himself,” Lukwago said.
At PFF headquarters in Katonga, where supporters had gathered in anticipation of a favorable ruling, the decision was met with fury and disappointment.
Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, a member of the PFF party expressed frustration.
“I didn’t know that by going to court we were wasting time until today’s ruling made me realize it.”
Former legislator Salamu Musumba lamented," “It’s very tragic for us as a country that we have wigged fellows in courtrooms.”
Prosecutors allege that Besigye and Lutale plotted to overthrow the Government of Uganda from Nairobi and Europe through the use of firearms.
